Sindh Province

Karachi : ReNews Pakistan
Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab on Tuesday laid the foundation stone for the improvement and rehabilitation of Sakhi Hassan Road in North Nazimabad, as part of the city’s ongoing infrastructure development drive led by the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC).
The project, estimated at Rs140 million, will convert the 0.883 kilometre stretch into a modern dual carriageway with a width of 30 feet. It also includes road rehabilitation, drainage system upgrades, and other civic improvements aimed at easing traffic congestion and addressing rainwater accumulation caused by nearby hilly areas, particularly around Sakhi Hassan Graveyard and adjoining localities.
Speaking on the occasion, the mayor said the initiative is part of a broader programme under which 26 roads across Karachi are being constructed and rehabilitated.
He noted that development work worth approximately Rs68 billion is currently underway in the city, including completed projects such as Shahrah e Noor Jahan and ongoing work on major arteries like Sher Shah Suri Road and Shahrah e Bhutto from Qayyumabad to Kathore in Gadap Town.
Murtaza Wahab further stated that the upgraded drainage system on Sakhi Hassan Road would ensure proper disposal of rainwater, providing much-needed relief to residents. He reaffirmed that improving transportation facilities and civic infrastructure remains a top priority for KMC, adding that all ongoing projects will be completed within stipulated timelines.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to accelerate the completion of ongoing and pending infrastructure projects across Sindh, warning that delays will not be tolerated.
Chairing a high level review meeting at the NHA Regional Office in Karachi, the minister was briefed on the progress of major highway schemes in the province. Discussions centered on resolving administrative bottlenecks and addressing security challenges to ensure smooth and timely execution of projects.
A detailed review of key national routes, including N-5, N-55, N-120, N-110, as well as the strategically important M-6 Motorway, was conducted. The minister also issued directives to improve bridge infrastructure and enhance the efficiency of the toll tax collection system.
Emphasizing quality and accountability, Aleem Khan stated that no compromise would be made on construction standards and transparency. He approved the formation of special teams to tackle project related issues and instructed officials to submit weekly progress reports.
The minister further directed that all future toll plazas in Sindh adopt a uniform design to facilitate commuters. He also announced performance based incentives for NHA staff to encourage efficiency and timely delivery.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to modernizing infrastructure, he called for better procurement practices and improved contract management, particularly for the M-6 Motorway project.

Karachi | ReNews Pakistan
The Municipal Commissioner of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has informed the Judicial Commission investigating the Gul Plaza fire tragedy that no approval was ever granted for any change in the building’s land use.
In a written response submitted before the commission, the municipal commissioner stated that the clarification was provided after a thorough internal review of official records. The commission had earlier sought an explanation regarding the building’s land status.
According to the reply, a report from the KMC Director Land also confirmed that there is no record of any such approval. It was further maintained that since the land came under KMC’s administrative control, no change in its status has been documented in official records.
The response emphasized that the findings were based on a detailed examination of the Land Department’s record and clarified that no other legal proceedings would be affected by this position.
Meanwhile, the Senior Member of the Board of Revenue (BoR) has also submitted a separate report to the Judicial Commission, detailing the ownership and record of the Gul Plaza land. The report stated that the plot originally belongs to the provincial government, while KMC only exercised limited administrative and financial authority over it.
It further noted that no audit or review is available on record regarding compliance with the original land use conditions. The BoR’s findings were compiled using records from the District Registrar Karachi, Deputy Director Lands KMC, and Mukhtiarkar Saddar.
According to the report, the land, measuring approximately 8,128 square yards, was initially recorded as property of the Karachi municipality.